The Prophet, on whom be peace, said, “Pity three (classes of men): the mighty man of a people who is abased, and the rich man of a people who is impoverished, and a learned man whom the ignorant make sport of.”

گفت پیغامبر که رحم آرید بر ** جان من کان غنیا فافتقر

The Prophet said, “Take pity on the soul of him who was rich and then became poor,

والذی کان عزیزا فاحتقر ** او صفیا عالما بین المضر

And on him who was mighty and became despised, or on one (who is) virtuous and learned (dwelling) amongst the (people of) Mudar.”

گفت پیغامبر که با این سه گروه ** رحم آرید ار ز سنگید و ز کوه 825

The Prophet said, “Show pity to these three classes (of men), (even) if ye are of (the hardness of) rock and mountain:

آنک او بعد از رئیسی خوار شد ** وآن توانگر هم که بی‌دینار شد

(Namely), him who was made lowly after having been a chief, and the rich man, too, who became impecunious,

وآن سوم آن عالمی که اندر جهان ** مبتلی گردد میان ابلهان

And, thirdly, the learned man who in this world becomes afflicted (by living amongst) the foolish;

زانک از عزت به خواری آمدن ** هم‌چو قطع عضو باشد از بدن

For to come (fall) from high to low estate is like the amputation of a limb from the body.”

عضو گردد مرده کز تن وا برید ** نو بریده جنبد اما نی مدید

The limb that is cut off from the body becomes dead: (when) newly cut off, it moves, but not for long.

هر که از جام الست او خورد پار ** هستش امسال آفت رنج و خمار 830

(Similarly) he who drank of the cup of Alast last year, this year he suffers the pain and headache (in consequence of having drunk),

وآنک چون سگ ز اصل کهدانی بود ** کی مرورا حرص سلطانی بود

While he who, like a dog, is by nature attached to the kennel —how should he have the desire for (spiritual) sovereignty?

توبه او جوید که کردست او گناه ** آه او گوید که گم کردست راه

(Only) he that has sinned seeks to repent; (only) he that has lost the (right) way cries “Alas!”

Story of the young gazelle being confined in the donkey-stable, and how the donkey assailed the stranger, now with hostility and now with mockery, and how it was afflicted by (having to eat) dry straw which is not its (proper) food. And this is a description of the chosen servant of God amongst worldlings and those addicted to passion and sensuality; for “Islam (was) strange (when it first) appeared, and will become strange again, and blessed are the strangers.” The Messenger of Allah spake the truth.

آهوی را کرد صیادی شکار ** اندر آخر کردش آن بی‌زینهار

A hunter captured a gazelle: the merciless man put it into a stable.

آخری را پر ز گاوان و خران ** حبس آهو کرد چون استمگران

(Acting) like oppressors, he made a stable full of cows and donkeys the prison of the gazelle.

آهو از وحشت به هر سو می‌گریخت ** او به پیش آن خران شب کاه ریخت 835

The gazelle, wild with terror, was fleeing in every direction: at night he (the hunter) poured (pieces of chopped) straw before the donkeys.

از مجاعت و اشتها هر گاو و خر ** کاه را می‌خورد خوشتر از شکر

(Moved) by hunger and (ravenous) appetite, every cow and donkey was devouring the straw, (as though it were) sweeter than sugar.

گاه آهو می‌رمید از سو به سو ** گه ز دود و گرد که می‌تافت رو

Now the gazelle would run in fright from side to side, now it would turn its face away from the smoke and dust of the straw.

هرکرا با ضد خود بگذاشتند ** آن عقوبت را چو مرگ انگاشتند

Whosoever is left (in company) with his opposite, they (who are wise) have deemed that punishment (terrible) as death,

تا سلیمان گفت که آن هدهد اگر ** هجر را عذری نگوید معتبر

So that Solomon said, “Unless the hoopoe make a respectable excuse for his absence,

بکشمش یا خود دهم او را عذاب ** یک عذاب سخت بیرون از حساب 840

I will kill him or inflict upon him a torment, a torment severe beyond (all) calculation.”

هان کدامست آن عذاب این معتمد ** در قفص بودن به غیر جنس خود

Hark, what is that torment, O trusted (friend)? To be in a cage without thy congener.

زین بدن اندر عذابی ای بشر ** مرغ روحت بسته با جنسی دگر

O Man, thou art in torment on account of this body: the bird, thy spirit, is imprisoned with one of another kind.

روح بازست و طبایع زاغها ** دارد از زاغان و چغدان داغها

It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city of Sabzawár.

او بمانده در میانشان زارزار ** هم‌چو بوبکری به شهر سبزوار

It remains amongst them in sore misery, like an Abú Bakr in the city ofSabzawár.

Story of Mohammed Khwárizmsháh who took by war (force) the city of Sabzawár, where all (the inhabitants) are Ráfizís (extreme Shí‘ites). (When) they begged him to spare their lives, he said, “I will grant (you) security as soon as ye produce from this city a man named Abú Bakr and present him to me.”

شد محمد الپ الغ خوارزمشاه ** در قتال سبزوار پر پناه 845

Mohammed Alp Ulugh Khwárizmsháh marched to battle against Sabzawár, (the city) full of refuge (for the wicked).

تنگشان آورد لشکرهای او ** اسپهش افتاد در قتل عدو

His troops reduced them (the inhabitants) to straits; his army fell to killing the foe.